The Adequacy of Basic Income Assistance Benefits (Gain) in December 1980

In Vancouver, people who live on Guaranteed Available Income for Need (GAIN) are facing a shortfall in income of between $50 and $200 every month, according to the most recent study by interviewing those who came to them for Christmas gifts.

Abstract: In Vancouver, people who live on Guaranteed Available Income for Need (GAIN) are facing a shortfall in income of between $50 and $200 every month, according to the most recent study by interviewing those who came to them for Christmas gifts. Their contribution to t he shelter part of the study helped to demonstrate the burden that shelter costs are presenting to the poor, particularly for single people and single parent families. For example, the average shelter costs for bachelor unit at the time of the study were between $225 and $263 a month while GAIN allows for only $130 a month for shelter for single people. Although rooms and cheap hotels are less expensive, 50% of those interviewed were having to pay more than $140 per month for shelter.

The study also compares the costs and average expenditures of eight groups of GAIN recipients for all of the basic necessities: housing, food, clothing, personal care items and transportation costs. The total costs lead to the above mentioned shortfalls. There is no attempt in this short study to do anything but point to the financial problems faced by those receiving GAIN. There is no analysis given or solutions proposed.